Written by Listy Le
What Will You Be? A ‘Red Rose’ or ‘White Hydrangea’ in Law School?
If you asked me what life is, I would say, ‘Life is a process of defining who you are by going through challenges, challenges from outside and challenges from your own thoughts.’
Perhaps you have read a thousand boring stories about ‘Why I study law’. Then reading my story may seem uncannily profound, not just about law, but about recognising who I was, and defining who I am and who I would become. A red rose and white hydrangea, as I will explain, symbolises the shift in how I saw myself before and after entering law school.
Red Rose - A Symbol of the Emotionally Strong
In nature, the red rose is mainly mentioned as a symbol of love. Personally, the red rose is a symbol of natural shine with its beauty and its elegance. Being a red rose in law school comes with a natural sense of elegance and strength. I tend to shine without trying from how I carry myself to how I speak and dress with intention, which often makes me the centre of attention in a room. This charm is not just about appearance; it helps me build connections, form friendships and professionally network with people.
My emotional management is also one of my strengths. I’ve learned to stay calm under pressure, and that composure allows me to clearly map out my academic goals, prepare in advance, and follow through with discipline. People often say I seem like someone who always knows what to do and while they may not see the effort behind it, the truth is I plan with care.
I have strong soft skills like time management and stress control, which make me both productive and ambitious. I don’t just study law, I walk a path that I’ve carefully chosen and commit to it with quiet resilience. Like a rose. I have roots in my values, soft petals in my sensitivity and thorns to protect the boundaries I’ve set. I may not bloom for applause, but simply being myself, I uplift the space around me and I believe it is a quiet power of a red rose in the world of law.
Transformation from a Red Rose to a White Hydrangea
The red rose once stood for who I was: bold, confident, radiant, and admired. Yet that rose was struck down by loss. This year, both my grandmother and my mother left this world, leaving me with no strength or confidence to carry on. I collapse under the weight of grief - exhausted, withdrawn and caught in an endless cycle of emotions I could not escape
Even in those moments of exhaustion, I never asked for help. I thought I was a burden, that I would ruin the joy of those around me. Silence felt safer. The bright red rose I once embodied had faded. I stepped back, becoming quieter, wrestling with inner storms no one else could see.
Appearance of the White Hydrangea
That was the moment I transformed into the white hydrangea. Still gentle, still graceful but now carrying a quiet sadness behind my eyes. I no longer sought to be the center of attention. Instead, I stepped back, observed more and cared for others more deeply.
Yet in that silence, I often found myself comparing my pace with others. My friends seemed to move forward with energy and certainty, while I felt weighed down by the grief and tiredness of losing two people I loved most. Their absence slowed me, drained my strength, and made me question whether I was falling behind
Perhaps you see yourself in me, but let me remind you: every flower blooms in its own season. You will find the right time for yourself, and sometimes slowing down is how happiness finally catches up with you.
A Different Kind of Strength
I am now the white hydrangea, not as dazzling as the red rose once was, but perhaps stronger in ways unseen. My battles are quieter: fighting inner doubts, facing storms of the soul. And yet, the strength I carry today is fiercer than before
You might wonder how someone just turning twenty this year could endure this weight, and why I still keep moving forward. The answer is simple: behind me are the support and trust of the people who believe in me, and above all, the love of my grandmother and my mother.
The Mission of the White Hydrangea
Being a white hydrangea can feel lonely at times, especially when you care for others more than yourself. However, I’ve learnt to discern who truly deserves that care. The white hydrangea has its own sharpness, subtle and observant rather than loud and obvious like red rose.
Perhaps that is my purpose in life: to quietly nurture, to offer warmth, to remind others of why they chose this path. If you feel lost in your studies or weighed down by fatigue, I hope you can remember the reason you began this journey and allow yourself to bloom in your own season.
Blooming in Law School
Law school is not only about mastering cases, statutes and exams, it is also about discovering who you are under pressure. Some of us may begin as roses: bold, ambitious, eager to shine. Others, like me, may transform into white hydrangea: quieter, more observant, carrying unseen burdens yet cultivating a different kind of strength.
Both flowers have their season, and both belong in the same garden. In the same way, every student’s path through law is unique. Your worth is not measured by how loudly you shine, but by how deeply you grow
So if you ever feel behind or weighed down, remember: every flower blooms in its own time. Trust that your time will come. And when it does, you will realise that the resilience you built, even in silence, is what makes you not only a law student, but a stronger human being ready to serve justice with empathy and courage.